Whole Wheat Peanut Noodles

cook about half a package of Whole Wheat spaghetti noodles according to directions.

cook/steam shelled edamame soybeans till tender.

drain noodles and place in bowl with edamame

add: 2tbsp creamy peanut butter

        1/4 c. Soy Veri Teriyaki sauce

        1/4 c. fage' or other greek yogurt

stir to distribute throughout the noodles

add sliced green onions cuts diagonally

and garnish with 1-2 tsp. sesame seeds

*optional- add red chili flakes, satay peanut sauce instead of the PB, or crushed garlic

enjoy! the kids love it and always ask for seconds. loaded with protein, whole grains, and active cultures its a complete meal.

 



grass stains on a party dress

so, as much as i'd like to go to sleep, there is a concept that came to a giant mountain in my head as i lay in bed reading a chapter in Makoto Fujimura's book refractions, a journey of faith, art & culture. when he spoke about his largest installation "Golden Pine" commissioned by the Oxford House in Hong Kong, there was mention to his massive painting weathering, settling, and intentionally allowing the silver to tarnish over time.

this then reminded me of my art- while i have never applied gold leaf or intricate brush strokes to many of my paintings (think brash, bold moves and splatters of paint) I wouldn't mind it. but then again, my environment isn't conducive to "fine art"- my studio is primitive, cold and doesn't support museum like archival temperaments. so does this exclude me from the more sophisticated category and place me into a more volatile arts category, like that of Andy Goldsworthy, who uses mother nature at the canvas, medium and backdrop and is okay with the transformation and morphing of his creation- which inevitably dissolves in a hazy mist of ocean fog, a rushing tide, blowing wind or trampled by animal's hooves.

so, i got a new blouse at Nordstrom today (stay with me here). i've had a gift card from there for ages, so with a few events on the horizon, i felt like i had a (bit) of a handle on some vague fashion trends at the moment. (apparently bows, pleated skirts, and over sized shirts are in) i ended up having to return one shirt because it snagged easily. then i got home with blouse #2 and realize it scoots off the shoulders. intentionally, i am sure from the designer's perspective, but annoying to me. call me a boring mom, but i need my clothes to have function as much as fashion (ok, more function than fashion, actually) so how much does one put up with for the sake of beauty, aesthetics, etc.?

how much can we step outside the box we've been put in (age, demographic, society, environment, stage, maturity, etc) and find a tone that inspires others but also resonates within their core. i love some of the new sitcoms because while i don't work on a TV set (See: Up All Night & 30 Rock) i still find the comical leveling that reminds us how human we are that we get baby spit up on us and eat cheese puffs in our sweats on friday nights when it seems like everyone else is out partying it up. how much can i play joanna newsom to my friends without them covering their ears and still be normal enough to sit down to a game of mexican dominoes? how much can we share the Gospel in the world and understand the pain without indulging in the same vices?

these are just late night ponderings as i get ready to start a new painting and finding out just how eccentric i can be while still reaching the masses. do we just take out our good china (if i had it) and use it in picnics, wear tuxedos no matter the discomfort and perform to an audience that isn't there?

Visiting Art Dealers - Awesome video clips here

Vehrs Wine Tasting

hosted Monday at Palisade Restaurant in Magnolia, I had a wonderful time trying over 20 different wines. a few that stood out to me were:

                                    

                       

• Tagaris' - Soaring Rooster Syrah '09 & Soaring Rooster Mourvedre '09
• Wines Unlimited- Montepulciano Chronicon '08and 642 Riserva del Canapone Maremma IGT Tuscany '09- this one was a blend with bright sangiovese, earth & jammy
• Casa Ventura's- Belezos Reserva Rioja '04 tempranillo grapes
• Terra Blanca's- Onyx Red Wine '07
• Rombauer Vineyards's- Diamond Selection Cabernet Sav. '06 single vineyard, 100% cab
• Woodward Canyon's- Artist Cabernet Sauvignon '08 earth, subtle oak, cocoa. grown primarily in the Champoux Vineyard
• Miner Family Vineyards'- The Oracle '06 a Bordeaux style blend from Stagecoach vineyard. cocoa, spicy oak, lush blackberry

the gentleman from Storybrook Mountain Wines (CA) & Miner Family Vineyards (CA) and me

Oysters



photo courtesy of Brad Lovejoy

as one of the best heminway quotes goes

“As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans.”


― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

a festival dedicated to those precious pearly little shellfish. i'll take 'em cooked, baked, or raw on the half shell. (no frying, please!) the festival in Shelton, on October 1st & 2nd will have tastings, pairings, schuckings, and... fresh oysters.
so, who's coming with me?

with a moo moo here

some people say the whole "local" or "locavore" movement is just a bunch of hype... but i have to push up against it in regards to the wealth and abundance we have in our own backyard here in the PacNw. after a long and bordering on indulgent trip to Metropolitan Market, the kids and I left with some fresh Washington Peaches, Pluots, seattle loose teas that the kids smelled and picked out, fresh baguettes, Valhalla coffee, and lastly a jar of every dairy product that Twin Brook Creamery (from Lynden) had to offer. WARNING: the chocolate milk is the thickest and most addicting treat that you've ever let slip past your lips.

As I pour the "half & half" into my coffee, the sobering thought that coffeemate will never again cut it. Darn you, good food!

H&M online

fun news you won't find on FOX or MSNBC: H&M can now be shopped online. and some of the random obscure pieces I can never figure out at the store how to pair with another piece actually make sense when they put it together for you- like the look above. it's menswear inspired, but i think its extremely feminine. since i won't be wearing this outfit to the park, grocery store or beach with the kids, someone out there must get it so i can live fashionably vicariously through you. best of shopping luck.

coming back slowly: a kitchen inspiration

(sorry its been so long since i've posted anything creative, much less anything at all. call it a dormancy period, call it hibernation. either way, the breezes of fall on its way and the turning pages of the calendar always inspire me- the cusp of autumn brings me alive. (even in this trying time of my life, i think this still to be true))

• Listening to: the Head & the Heart
• Eating: Theo Chocolate (Hazlenut Crunch)
• Drinking: Cafe Appassionato (Magnolia Blend)

we have been painting the exterior of the house, remodeling our mother-in-law, and laying floor in our kitchen. as i see the sale prices combined with the desire for a simplistic style i see some themes taking place. i think in a past post i had leaned toward the rustic modern look, and i think it might be coming together... the taupe, latte & blue glass tile, the maple floors and the butcher block counter tops (yay ikea!) will lend to a look and feel that i hope will click with my heart. even the lighting will give a 15th ave coffee house feel... here's a preview sample of the kitchen:

here's a song for your day: